"[Assad's] confronted with popular demonstrations calling for change. We've seen these kind of demonstrations all over the Middle East, and it goes back to Secretary [Clinton's] speech in Doha that leadership of many of these countries need to respond to the legitimate aspirations of their people. It's far too easy to look for conspiracy theories than respond in a meaningful way for the call for reform."

-- Mark L. Toner,U.S. State Department Spokesman, March 30th, 2011

EDITOR'S NOTE: An important lesson for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who spends most of his time and effort -- while visiting the Middle East and most recently in Cuba -- criticizing the United States, as opposed to challenging and finding excuses for the tyrants that are hosting him.